Bracket for mounting a license plate to a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A bracket for mounting a license plate to a vehicle having an air scoop in the bumper area. The bracket has a body having a mounting surface adapted to receive a license plate, an arm having a hook which extends from a rear surface of the body. The hook engages a flange defining the air scoop. A pair of threaded fasteners pass freely through the license plate, body of the brackets to be received in threaded apertures in the vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a bracket for mounting a license plateto a

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Brackets for mounting license plates to vehicles are typicallystamped from metal or molded from a composite material and bolted to thevehicle. However, attachment of brackets to vehicles having curvedprofiles and/or openings for air scoops is difficult. In such cases, thebracket is mounted tangentially to a rounded portion of the vehicle.When air scoops are present in the front bumper, it is difficult tosecurely bolt the bracket to the vehicle. Frequently, the side edges ofthe bracket and license plate are unattached to the vehicle. When thevehicle passes through carwashes, the brushes of the carwash sometimesdamage the license plate or bracket when passing over the license plateand bracket. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a licenseplate bracket which is easily assembled, easily mounted to the vehicle,and which provides a stable platform for the license plate to preventdamage to the plate and bracket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a bracket for mounting a license plateto a vehicle, particularly a vehicle of the type having an air scoopadjacent or as part of the bumper. The bracket includes a body having atop, a bottom and a pair of side edges. A planar mounting surfaceextends across a front of the body. An arm with a hook extends from thecenter of the rear surface of the body. The hook extends upwardly toengage a flange defining the air scoop. The rear edges of the bracketare shaped to conform with the corresponding shape of the vehicle. Inthis manner, a license plate and license plate bracket may be mountedquickly with the use of only two license plate screws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0004] The present invention will be more fully understood by referenceto the following detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which the reference characters refer to likeparts throughout the several views and in which:

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bracket shown mounted to avehicle as it passes through a carwash;

[0006]FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the bracket andlicense plate in accordance with the invention; FIG. 3 is a sectionalside view of the bracket taken through lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0007]FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the bracket as installed on aportion of a flange in accordance with the invention; and

[0008]FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the bracket showing the bracketmounted in place on the vehicle in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A bracket 10 shown for mounting a license plate 12 to a vehicle14 having an air scoop 16 in accordance with the invention is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The air scoop 16 has an opening defined by a flange 18which extends inwardly into the vehicle 14 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0010] As best shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 10 includes an elongatedbody 20. The body 20 has a front planar mounting surface 22 defined by atop 24, bottom 26 and pair of sides 28 as shown in FIG. 2. The mountingsurface 22 has a width “SW” between the top 24 and bottom 26 which isequal or greater than the width of the license plate 12. Likewise, themounting surface 22 has a length “L” which is equal or greater than thelength of the license plate 12. A pair of tabs 29 extend upwardly fromthe bottom of the mounting surface 22 to receive the license plate 12.Mounting bolts 32 are to extend through apertures 30 in the bracket andbe received in threaded bores 50 formed in the vehicle as best shown inFIG. 5.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 3, an arm 34 having a hook 36 extends from arear surface 40 of the body. The arm 34 is positioned midway from eachside 28 approximately one-third of the width from the bottom 26. Thehook 36 opens upwardly to engage the flange 18 defining the air scoop 16as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The top has a rear edge 42 formed tocorrespond to the shape of the vehicle where the rear edge 42 ismounted. Thus, the rear edge 42 has a curved contour which mirrors theshape of the vehicle where the rear edge rests when mounted. Likewise,each of the sides 28 has an edge surface 44 which corresponds with theshape of the vehicle. The body 20 has a lattice 46 of projectionsextending from the rear surface 40 to provide strength and rigidity tothe body 20. The aperture 48 is formed through the body 20 adjacent thearm to facilitate viewing of the flange during installation. Thus, thebracket 10 is easily mounted to the vehicle by inserting the arm 34 intothe scoop 16 and slipping the hook 36 over an inner edge of the flange18. The mounting bolts 32 are inserted through the plate 12, apertures30, 38 to be received in threaded bores 50 formed in the vehicle. Thelicense plate and bracket are mounted with only two bolts 32. The edgesof the sides and edge of the top rest on the vehicle surface so that thebracket and plate are securely held in place with no appendices whichcan be caught by carwash brushes.

[0012] Having described my invention, many other modifications may beapparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains withoutdeviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A bracket assembly for mounting a license plate to avehicle, said bracket assembly comprising: a body having a front and arear extending between a pair of sides, said front having a planarportion adapted for mounting said license plate thereto, said rearsurface having an arm extending outwardly from said rear surface, saidarm having a hook adapted to engage a portion of said vehicle body; anda pair of fasteners, each of said fasteners passing through one of saidpair of apertures in said body to be received in threaded apertures insaid vehicle.
 2. The bracket of claim 1 having a top having a rear edge,said rear edge having a contour complimentary with a shape of saidvehicle where said rear edge abuts said vehicle.
 3. The bracket of claim1, wherein said planar portion of said front extends a predeterminedwidth between a top and a bottom, said width being at least equal to awidth of said license plate.
 4. The bracket of claim 1, wherein saidplanar portion has a predetermined length extending between said pair ofsides, said length being at least equal to a predetermined length ofsaid license plate.
 5. The bracket of claim 1 wherein said arm isdisposed centrally between said pair of sides.
 6. The bracket of claim1, wherein said arm extends from said body from a position generally onethird of the distance from said bottom to said top.
 7. A bracket formounting a license plate to a vehicle, said bracket comprising a bodyhaving a front and a rear extending between a pair of sides, said fronthaving a planar portion adapted for mounting said license plate thereto,said rear surface having one arm with a hook extending outwardly fromsaid rear surface, each of said hooks being adjacent one of said pair ofside edges.
 8. The bracket of claim 6, wherein said planar portion ofsaid front extends a predetermined width between a top and a bottom,said width being at least equal to a width of said license plate.
 9. Thebracket of claim 6, wherein said planar portion has a predeterminedlength extending between said pair of sides, said length being at leastequal to a predetermined length of said license plate.
 10. The bracketof claim 6 wherein said pair of arms and said tab extend along a planenormal to said rear surface.